Container carrier



Feb. 2, 1960 o. J. POUPITCH 2,923,405

CONTAINER CARRIER Original Filed 001'.- 30, 1950 Z @jja a/ flX MJ ZJMUnite Stat Pawfi assignments, to IllinoisTool Works, Chicago, 11]., acorporation of Illinois Original application October 30, 1950, SerialNo. 192,921. Divided and this application September 19, 1956, Serial No.610,771

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) The present invention relates generally tocarriers, and more particularly to novel carriers adapted forassociation with the beaded extremity of cans or the like, such as thosecommonly in use for beverages, foodstuffs or other canned goods ofvarious types. This application is a division of my co -pendingapplication Serial No. 192,921, filed October 30, 1950, now abandoned. j

It is an important object of the present invention to provide carriersof the type referred to above which'incorporate a novel clip formed fromsheet'stock such, for example, as sheet metal,- which clip-may bereadily applied to a plurality of containers disposed in substantiallyside-by-side parallel relationship and isadapted or displayed so as toconserve Space, and enable Ila securely to grip and retain thecontainers in a package.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a simpleone-piece sheet material clip having a novel construction so that it isadapted to be connected to adjacent bead or rim portions of a pluralityof sub- Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line and further showsthe clip applied to a sheet materialj handle member andrin position tobe connected with thej rim of a can or container; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing clip structure of Figs.5 and 6 partially applied toa pair of adjacent cans.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 through 4 whereinlike elements aredesignated by identical numerals, there isf shown a package 10comprising a plurality of can's12-of-I known construction, adjacentpairs of said cans being stantially abutting and parallel cans or thelike in a securely connecting the clip to the cans and also reverselydeflected for subsequently permitting removal of the cans from the clip.I

More specific objects of the present invention are to provide novel clipstructures of the above described type which may be readily applied to aplurality of cansdisposed in adjacent parallel relationship withoutsubstantially disturbing the parallel relationship of the cans and whichclips when fully applied to a plurality of cans or the like retain thecans securely in a manner which resists any tendency of the cans to turnor twist relatively to each other and to the clips. l Still anotherobject of the present invention is to provide a package including aplurality of cans or the like which are retained together securely onlyby clipsof connected by novel clip members 14 incorporating fea-' tures'of the present invention, which clip members are, in turn, connected toa sheet material handle member.

16. The handle member which maybernade from any suitable sheet materialsuch, for example, as cardboard, heavy paper and the like includes acentral bodyportion 18 to which the clips are attached in the mannerde-. scribed below and a pairof handle portions 20.and 22extendinglaterally from score or bend lines 24v and 26 respectively.Finger receiving slots 28 and 30 are respectively provided in the handleportions 20 and 22.: The handle member 16 is. initially formed intheflat condition shown in" Fig. 4 and his preferablyleft in;this

condition while'the package is being shipped or'stored plurality of thepackages to be stacked one upon the other. When the handle member is tobe used forcarry ing the package, it ismerely necessary to fold thehandle portions 20 and 22 along the lines 24 and 26 into generallyupright positionsso that the slots 28 and 30 are aligned for receivingthe fingers of apurchaser or other person who desires to carry the'package: It is to be' understood that the package may be formed sothat-th number of pairs of cans therein isdilferent from the number ofpairs shown in Fig. 4.

As shown best ;in.Figs. 2 and'3 the cans of each'pail. of cans inthepackage are disposedin side-by-sideparallel: relationship with theirannular end rims 32 substantially abutting each other at the pointindicated by the numeral,

34. The clip 12, as shown best in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, com.

prises a generally flat body portion 36 which'is adapted to traversethejspace between diverging portions of the rims32 laterally of thepoint 34 of substantial abutment.- First lockingsections 38 and 40integral with the'body, portion 36extend from the body portion sothatthy are adapted to be located in the spaces between adjacent adaptedto project-beneath and engage ,the downwardly the above described typeso that the package. maybe easily handled or carried, transported andstacked with other similar packages without the cans coming apart in anunauthorized manner.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawingswherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a clip structureincorporating features of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan viewof a package formed in accordance withthe present invention wherein a clip is applied to the rims of a'pair ofabutting cans;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 inFig. 2 and further shows in broken lines the position of lockingsections of the clip before they have been deformed to the solid linecan locking or facing surfaces of the rims 32 of adjacent cans orcon-rtainers. These shoulders have a width substantially equal to thethickness or width of the rims projecting laterally beyond the outersurface of the can sides 46'sothat the shoulders completely traverse thedownwardly facing 'surfaces of the rims and the outermost'margins orterminal ends 48 and 50 of the shoulders substantially engage the sides46 of the cans when the clip isapplied to the cans. The locking means orelements 38 and '40 alsoprovide generally vertical edges or surfaces 52and 54 which are. substantially straight and are adapted to engage thegen erally upright flattened outer peripheral'surfaces of the. can rimsas shown in Fig. 3 for thepurpose mentioned below. In this embodiment,the locking means 38 and 40 are in the form of tabs depending fromopposite ends of the body portion '56 and disposed in planes traversingthe longitudinal axis of the body portion 36 so that the: abutment orlocking shoulders 48 and50 and the abut 'ment' surfaces -52 and 54 arerigidly supported to, pre-, vent collapsing thereof toward each other.The clip "14 includes additionallocking means cooperable' with "thePirate F 2 1969.

above described Inching provided by the elements '33 ahd Heismanadditional locking means comprises elements or tabs 56 and 58fextendingfrom curved marprtisza 'fili 2996 .4 r9 9 si e qf th qlwe'an lt na'slmfi 'iilb? 6 m @6 e e din item ski ma s na ribrti n (58' an sne ti cya other side of the' body portion .36 These tabs,} hen ih t inis tu lap d, o the can a e adapt d o til rsl We? therim and d wnw r y a onandin 9 ga'gernent with'the innersurfaces of the rims forsubstantially.the full depth thereof as shownbest in Fig. wh reb the ms are ecu elacked b ween the. t s and t esh ulds s f e lock ms s' 8 and 40- 1t'mportantto note that'in this embodiment the tabs @"=T a d 6.4 a e' nita y t me assh w i n i l ancla shs n in o d l e in F g- 3 so that theptois tlat a l qut sdlv i em the sidear inal pa sans Qt he h .316- As a.su t. avrel ti ly d QWBWIQlY. andlaters l u wa d y o e in .t rcanrqviqtzd bst eenths u ermos margin r ed e Q e ch of t e abs and e qutem t m r n or edge f s sq atss ul er Qt t e lq kins m a 38 nd- F xmniexthethma b w n. he ab 56 re h u de 1 n i e! in 1 b thsnl m ral Thisre y facilitatesfinitialassembly of the clip. 12 with'thecans' since tht h sansmays ly s through he throats when the clip andthe cans arerelatively m'oved together and c mp; beremoved until the tabs have been.

mentary to the curvature ofthe can rims engage the' inner surfaces ofthe rims with relatively broad" surface gonad-and at arcuately andcircumferentially spaced areas or the rirris. This arrangement not ionly provides a. strong connection offlthe clip with the cans but alsoserves to restrain any tendencv of the canslto twist in a plane-parallel-to the longitudinal agris ofthe clip.

It is further to be" noted that the tabs when in the iriwardlyfolded -orfi nallyassembled condition provide up standingsurfaces engaging theupstanding inner-surfaces oi: the rims which cooperate with theupstandingsurfaces Blend 54 engaging the outersurfaccs ofthe rims andthe abutting portions of the' rims themselves ato'restrain any I bodyportion 36a as shown in Fig. 5 and as shown in solid line'sin Fig. 6.After initial assembly of the clip 14a with the cans as shown in solidlinesin Fig. 6, the elements 38a and 40a are depressed by suitablemeans, not shown, so that they extend into the space between divergingportions of adjacent cans. When these elements are fully deformed orfolded as shown in dotted lines inFig. 6 and in-Figa 7, theshouldermeans 42 and 144;: provided bv the.freef corner portions .of theelements underlie and engage'the downwardly facing surfaces of the 3rims and the. upstanding .surfaces 52a and 54:: provided ,by the ppositeedges of the elements traverse and engage the outer fperipheral surfacesof the rims. with a pair of cans in much the same manner as the clip 14described above. In this embodiment, the prongs .4 and. 6a- .a ad ptedto e t d. p y r gh i he. handle member 16a; as hown i F g: o s u s thlip o th hand member- While the preferredembodiments of the presentinvention have been-shown anddescribed herein, it is obvious that rnanystructural details may be changed without dfi.

. parting from the spirit and scope of the-appended claims.

'I -he invention is claimed as follows 1. A package comprising a pair ofcylindrical cans disposed in side by side substantially abutting andparallel, relationship and having circular radially and axially'projecting; endrims, oi predetermined thickness and height, and aone-piece sheetnmatcrial clip applied only to said end rims andretaining said cans in the package,

said clip including aggencrally horizontal planar body substantiallytraversing spaces between said cans at opposite sides of an area ofsubstantial abutment of the earns, a plurality of first locking meansintegral with said; body and disposed between said cans and engagingbeneath the rims of said cans, anda plurality of. second o k ng means nral, i said. b y d. engaging inner. surfaces .of, said. can rims andrespectively cooper-v ating with. said first locking rncans, each, ofsaid second lock ng m a s nc ud ng broad t m n r n t an ve sec ssse isnnd. jo ed t a ciirvededge f saidbody and engaging a circular innersurface of. a can rim with broad surface contact andmextending; forsubstantiallythelfulhdepth of the can rims, each co:

operable Parmesan first/and l secondl. locking means i havingmargins,spaced apart and, defining athroat 113.1?

tendencynof the can's to tilt in a plane disposeldtrans verselylof thelongitudinal axis of the clipl body.

' In order to secure the clip 14 to. thehandle member 16; a pa'iroflprongsi74- and 76 isstruck from the body portion In this embodimentthe clip is. adapted to be; assembled on top of the handle memberl'fijwith the elements 38'and 40 projecting through suitable aperturesformed in the handle member. The prongs '74 and 76 pierce the. handlemember and are'folded 'laterally for retaining the clip and' the handlemiemberin assembled.

relationship.

Figs'. 5, 6; and 7- show another embodiment of the, present inventionwhich is similar to the above described structure as indicated by theapplicationrof identical reference numerals with thesuffix af added tocorresponding elements. Inthisembodiment the tabs 56af58a and 64a-66aareinitially formed so, that theportions thereofiengageable with theinner'surfaces f'thecan m are substantially rtiq l isposal. anslthe n k:

5 5. e em nt 4 !1 .1;: g at r ant ie absar'e dap ed. 2. 29. e rmed; or sqdin rtlsr qass n p ish final.

nsmh r .2. p w th h a s- Mo e pscifi all n to -the,clip.*

rower than said can rim. thickness for positively locking the cans withrespectlto. saidclip and preventing detachsy nient, oi the cans, and;one, 01 each. pair of-said cooperable; first and second lockingmeans.including portions engaging arcuately'substantially spaced. areas of arun for resisting twistingof the cans. relative. to each other 2, Apackagenas,definedinlclaim 1, wlierein.said,first lgckingj means,include. a. pair. bi} elements respectively nte r l wi h and d pendinsxr m oppo ends a bodxandsubstan allst tr v rsing. the. spa e e n he cans,each of said elements including apair of oppositely projecting, andupwardly facing shoulders respectively n g nahe hsaid ca r m 3. Apackage, asdefi'ned; in claim 1', wherein said first loc in reaus ncludea r i of; hookh ped elements extending r mnpn Luee sis'ofi a b y d: s peh el en 38.41 @5 4- r 1991;. are a @5 29. qtwa sl'n ftsansrns te; atreitissiqt. med a ivelr. p sen in pp s te re c ne po t n beneath and nengag ment th he an r ms.

References fitted in. the fileof this patent UN TED .s ATEs PA E TS i 14 0 544 Katzin 9 1,51 ,132;- Kratze Nov. 18, 1924 1,800,109 Selig Apr.7,, 193,1

2,384,112. Meyer Sept. .4, 9.45 2,583,931. ..,Sep t.- 27,1 49

Thus, the clip 14a is adapted to be interlocked

